Columbus sheriff gets Nov. challenger

Mike Edwards is an unaffiliated candidate running for Columbus County sheriff. (Source: WECT)

Lewis Hatcher was appointed sheriff in January following Chris Batten’s resignation. (Source: WECT)

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) -

Columbus County Sheriff Lewis Hatcher will have a challenger in November's General Election after all.

The county board of elections certified a petition Monday from unaffiliated candidate Mike Edwards after elections staff determined he had satisfied the requirements.

State law mandated that Edwards get signatures from at least 1,481 Columbus County voters, equal to four percent of the county's registered voters as of Jan. 1.

He turned in 1,568 valid signatures, according to Board of Elections Director Carla Strickland.

Edwards has worked 19 years in law enforcement, including at the Bladenboro Police Department and Columbus County Sheriff's Office. He is currently an officer with the Tabor City Police Department.

"The integrity and the ethics in Columbus County Sheriff's Office has suffered tremendously over the last few years, and I'd like to build that back up," Edwards said, explaining that he has considered running for more than two years.

"Deputies [are] not following through with investigations, not treating the public – the taxpaying public – with the courtesy they need to be treated with," he said. "You don't want someone to come, scratch out a report, keep looking at his watch and run right out the door."

Hatcher was not available for an interview Monday.

He handily won the Democrat primary in May after being appointed to the post in January following the resignation of former Sheriff Chris Batten.

Candidates in most 2018 elections have until Noon on Wednesday to file.

A pair of incumbent District Attorneys and one incumbent Sheriff will be unopposed as they seek new terms in the 2018 elections. The filing deadline passed at Noon on Wednesday, bringing a flurry of new candidates into races for local and state elected offices. Incumbent Sheriff Ed McMahon of New Hanover County. along with District Attorneys Ben David (5th Judicial District) and Jon David (13th Judicial District) did not receive any challengers during the filing period.

A pair of incumbent District Attorneys and one incumbent Sheriff will be unopposed as they seek new terms in the 2018 elections. The filing deadline passed at Noon on Wednesday, bringing a flurry of new candidates into races for local and state elected offices. Incumbent Sheriff Ed McMahon of New Hanover County. along with District Attorneys Ben David (5th Judicial District) and Jon David (13th Judicial District) did not receive any challengers during the filing period.

The filing period is underway for candidates wanting to run in 2018 General Elections across North Carolina. Voters will be electing candidates in several offices, including county commissioners, school board members, district attorneys, sheriffs and members of the state house and senate. All legislative seats are up for election in 2018, along with two congressional seats.

The filing period is underway for candidates wanting to run in 2018 General Elections across North Carolina. Voters will be electing candidates in several offices, including county commissioners, school board members, district attorneys, sheriffs and members of the state house and senate. All legislative seats are up for election in 2018, along with two congressional seats.

Members of Congress send reactions to President Trump's State of the Union Address. (Source: Associated Press)

Lawmakers that represent southeastern North Carolina in Congress released statements following President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Address on Tuesday night. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, along with Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC 7th District), had comments following the president's speech. .

Lawmakers that represent southeastern North Carolina in Congress released statements following President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Address on Tuesday night. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, along with Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC 7th District), had comments following the president's speech. .

Joseph Cina, a former WPD officer and NHC Sheriff's Lieutenant, says he plans to run for Pender County Sheriff in 2018. (Source: Joseph Cina)

Joseph A. Cina, who has law enforcement experience with the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said in a news release that he plans to run for Sheriff in Pender County in 2018, to succeed the retiring Sheriff Carson Smith.

Joseph A. Cina, who has law enforcement experience with the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said in a news release that he plans to run for Sheriff in Pender County in 2018, to succeed the retiring Sheriff Carson Smith.